Actor charged with murder due in Los Angeles court

The Associated Press

Posted:
06/17/2014 10:43:55 PM MDT

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FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2012 file photo, actor Michael Jace attends WordTheatre presents Storytales at Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Jace is due back in court on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, for arraignment on a murder charge filed after police say he shot and killed his wife, April Jace, on May 19, 2014, in their Los Angeles home. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Michael Jace is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday for arraignment on a murder charge filed after his wife's shooting death last month.

The actor, who played a police officer on the television series "The Shield," did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance last month. Police say Jace shot his wife April multiple times in the family's Los Angeles home on May 19 while their young children were present. The boys were unharmed and are now living with relatives.

Police have not released a motive for the slaying but have said they are looking into whether financial or other domestic issues may have been involved. Jace's attorneys have said the case is still in its early stages and their investigation is ongoing.

April Jace's family has called her death a senseless act of domestic violence.

Police say Jace called 911 to report the killing. Their two children were at home at the time but were unharmed.

Audio of Jace's call has not been released, but fire officials released a 911 call from April Jace's father earlier this month in which he says the actor told him he had shot his wife.

"My son-in-law called me, and (texted) me, and said come get the kids because he shot April, our daughter," the caller, whose name was redacted from the audio, told a fire department dispatcher.

April Jace, 40, a financial aid counselor at Biola University, had three sons, including two boys under the age of 10 with Jace.

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Michael Jace also appeared on the show "Southland" and had small roles in the movies "Planet of the Apes," ''Boogie Nights" and "Forrest Gump."

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